Pipe coupler



Oct 1 1, 1932.

e. c. THOMAS, JR 1,881,980

PI-PE COUPLER Fil ed Dec. 17, 1930 FIGJ. 8 --|2-3 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.2.

GEORG a mom.

BY ATTORNEY WW WW Oct. 11, 1932. s. c. THOMAS, JR 1,881,980

PIPE COUPLER Filed Dec. 17, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.7.

Flt-3.9.

INVENTOR GEORGE C'. THOMASJR.

BY ATTO NEY ilatented Oct. 11, 1932 -sT AT E's PAT NT OFFIC enonenj c. THOMAS. an on ELIZABETH, NEW- JERSEY, Aissrenon we run moans a news so, or ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A conclusion or new JEasnY sign couimia Application flleripecembei'17,1930. Serial no, 502,982.

This invention pertains to pipe couplers by means of which an unthreaded pipe or rod may-be securely. anchored to the cou lei which coupler may be part of an Outlet ox or other structure. 'Thecoupler may also be constructed sothat the unthreaded ends of two pipes may besecurely coupled, together. An object of the invention is to construct a pipe coupler which can be coupled to an unthreaded pipe merelyby-hammering a looking or securing part of the coupler into locking position and consequently consists of a coupler. memberhaving a circumferem .tial space between the outer circumference of the pipe and some part of or substantially all of the inner circumferenceofthe member into which a wedgingmeans .is driven or hammered to securely anchor the pipe with: in thecoupler. I I x The object of the invention is in particular to providea. coupler member having a bore, part or substantially all'of which is some what greater in diameter than the diameter of'the pipe to be anchored therein and supporting the pipe centrally ofathe bore. A

wedging T device which has a thickness approximating the radial extent or depth ofthe space between the outer circumference of the pipe and the inner circumference of thebore,

' is driven circumferentially. into the space between the pipe wall and the bore of the coupler to, securely anchor the pipetlierein.

Other objects of the; invention will be more apparent from the v following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is a section through an outlet box and coupler carried thereby in which the wedging means has been driven into position to securely anchora pipe therein;

F'gure 2 is a cross-section takenv on placed inposition preparatoryto driving itint'o the space between the pipe and the coupler member to securely anchorthe pipe therein.

33 of Figure 1 showing the wedging device driven into position and thereby anchoring the pipe withinthe coupler.

- Fi ure 4 is a cross-section through a pi e coup or so oonstructed'that the ends of t e wedging device proj ectbeyondthe outer cir cumference of the coupler when driven into position. r

Figure 5 is a coupler showing two separate wedging devices driven into position to anchor a, pipe within the coupler. I Figure 6 is a'-iperspectiveview of a U- shaped form of 'wedging'device.

cross-section through the J'Figure 7 is ajperspective' view of a simple I wedging device having biting ridges upon one face thereof.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a U- shaped wedging device having biting ridges upon both-tho inner and'outer surfaces there- 0 v v Figure'9 is a section taken on Figure 7 showing the biting ridges upon the surfaceof a wedging device. 7 Figure 10 is a section taken on line 10-'-10 of Figure 8' showing the biting ridges upon both surfacesof the; wedging device.

Figure 11 is a cross-section through the coupler showing a wed'ging device havingbiting ridges anchoring the pipe withinthe coupler with the biting ridgescut into the surface of the pipe;

Figure 12 is a partial section of a pipe coupler by means ofwhich theunthreaded ends of two pipes are securely coupled together 7 outlet b01120. In such construction the out let box has an extension or coupler meinberfll 2421 of F igure 1 with the wedging' device.

having a bore 22 toreceive the unthreaded end ofthe conduit C so that the coupler member takes the form of a shell. The shell :01 canplermember 22 in one construction has a groove'23 around the bore 22 which may ex- "Figure 3 i c s taken n tend around the entire circumference of the material thin enough to bend aroundthe con.-..

duit pipe C when hammered into the groove 23 and has a thicknessapproximately'equalf to the depth of thegro'ove-23F*Eaclr'end of" the wedging means may be bluntly po nted for a purpose to be described subsequently e 2% T a? 2M7: i

' The pipe is anchored within the coupler by -inser ting the-wedging means 27 into the passage 24 inrthe coupler.v membere21 and hammeringonthe-head 28.=so thatvone end or leg of-lthewedgingmeans27-isdriven-aroundone side of the conduit C and the other leg is driven -.a round the other side into the clear ancespa'ce or -groove 23 in thefcoupler member, .;l 1 1e%-legs .off theawedging means 27 bend around the pipe in opposite directions and-securely anchor-the pipe therein. In order to assist theends, 29 of-the wed ing means to nd around -the-spi e or .con uit C,lthe

fi fanbluntly pointe' asshown.

As referred to above, the groove 23 within the bore 22.01 the coupler member 21 which passes completely-around. thebore is only one of several constructions available for practicing the invention. Although a'groove is shown in the: drawings, the groovegshOwever, is'in effect: nothing more than a clearance space between thewouter circumference of...the pipe and the inner circumference of the-boreiniwhich means-are provided, such as the remainder of theuborewhich-snugly fits theconduit, for supporting the conduit, centrallyof. the bore 3 5and forming a} clearance spacearound the whole circumference or any? part ithereof [into which-a wedging means is driven circumferentially. Irrespective of whether a groove or, a clearance spacewith 4 means to" support therpipe in central POSi-w tionw'ithinthebore is; provided, the wedging means driven thereinto has a thickness. ap: proximating the radial depth of the groove or clearance space between the ute cireum- 9 ference of the conduit to be anchored'in the coupler member 21'and' the inner circumference of the bore 22 of the couplen nelnber. As shown in'Figure 3, the 'wedging means 27 wraps around the pipe within the clearance,

space "or-groove 23 and securely anchors the conduit G-therein.- I l The wedging 'me'ans27 may be driven into the-clearance space asiaras maybedes'ired. Preferabl ,however, the wedgingmeans 27 28 of the wedging means is flush withv or substantially flush withthe'outer-circumference? Qfith coupler member. Inzthis position the overall dimension of the coupler is a' miniis driven into the groove 23 so that the head mum. It may be necessary or desirable to reend ofthe passage"24 so'th'at a tool may be inserted therein and underneath the head 28 'ofthe wedging means and thereby permittin L the wedging means to-be pried upwardly and out of the groove or clearance space 23 when the head 28 of the wedging means 27has been so driven. deeply into the-passage '24.

In the construction show-n inFigu're 1, the groove '23 extends around the entire circumference of'the' bore. The groove need not necessarily extend around the entire circUm fere'nce and, as 'shown'in'Figure 4}, a clearance space or'apair of grow-weamay be used'each of which extends around something less than half the circumference 'of the bore. Inthis v construction the grooves "35- may have'sepa- W ratepassages 36 'for'the insertion of the wedging m'ea'ns 27 thereby forming'a pair of spaced passages from the outer circumference of the coupler member 21 to the groves 35. In this construction the wedging means 27 cannot be driven further into the; grooves35 than the head 28' will *permit" "by abutting the central portion 37 between the spaced passages 36. The grooves 35 attheir other end mayhave a passage 38lea ding to the exterior of the coupler member 21 so that when the Wedging' means 27 is'driven into the grooves 35 the ends 29 thereof project beyond the outercircum: ference' of the member. In order to remove the wedgingmeans 27 in case it isdesirfed to uncouple the pipe the'refrom,.th e ends 29 may be hammered down which will raise the head 28 sufliciently to'ena'ble a tool to be inserted between the head 28 andth uoentral portion 37 to 'pry the wedg'ing means out of the cone pler member and grooves, ,35. Where. the grooves 35' are provided with separate spaced passages'36 extending to-the outer circumfer enceof the coupler member 21', the legs of the wedging means 27 must be spaced fromeach other a distance equal to the" spacing of the passages 36as will'be understoodg: 1 r i The wedging means shown Figures 1- through 4 is'ofthe U-shapedf form and it is clearthatthe wedgingfmeansmay be a single straight strip, such as that shown [in igurefi.v The single wedgin'g' means 40, shown herein? is: driven into the groove 35 inthe same man a groove 35 which does not extend completely around the inner bore of the coupler member 21 and in which outwardly extending passages 38 are provided, the wedging means 40 may be driven thereinto so that-the ends 41 may obtain a good grip thereupon to drawit out of the groove. A separate wedging means 40 may be provided for each groove 35 if desired, but it is clear that only one wedging'means driven into one of the grooves 35 will retai'nthe pipe within the coupler member 21, although such conduit will not be as securely anchored within the coupler as it would be if two wedging means 40 were utilized.

Where the conduit to be anchored within the coupler is part of an electrical wiring system, it is important that a good electrical connection be made between the coupler and the conduit. In order to obtain such good electrical connection, the wedging means 45 may be provided upon its inner facewith biting or cutting ridges 46. These ridges bite into the surface of the conduit C and obtain goodelectrical contact with the pipe and in addition thereto, more securely anchor the conduit within the coupler member. Such cutting or biting ridges 46 may be provided upon either the single wedging means shown in Figure 7, or may be-provided uopn the U-shaped wedging means.

Not only the inner surface of the wedging means may have the biting or cutting ridges,

but both ofv the faces of the wedging means may have such ridges and Figure 8 shows a U-shaped type of wedging means 50 having ridges 51 upon its inner face and ridges 52 upon its outer face, as shown more clearlyin the section-in Figure 10. The ridgeson the inner face bite into the surface of the conduit, as shown in Figure 12, and the outer ridges 52'bite into the surface of the groove 35 or bore ofthe coupler member so that good electrical contact is assured between the pipe and the coupler member as well as more se-.

curely anchoring the conduit within the coupler. It is, clear that the ridges may be pro- I vided uponboth faces of the single wedging means as well as the U-shaped wedging means. i

As referred to in a general manner above,

the coupler may be constructed to firmly secure together the unthreaded ends of tw 00H- duits. Such a construction is shown in Figure 12 in which the coupler member 55 has an internal bore 56 to receive the unthreaded ends of the conduit C. The coupler member 55 has either a single groove 23 as shown in Figure 2, or a pair of grooves 35, as shown in section in Figure 4, to receive the wedging means 50.

Another pair of clearance spaces or grooves I 35 are provided adjacent the other end of the coupler member 55 to receive a second wedgmg means-50 to secure the unthreaded end of a second conduit C within the coupler space exists around the conduit into which a wedging means is circumferentially driven. In such construction means areprovided for retaining the conduit centrally of the bore which means may be circumferential rings which snugl fit the conduit, such as the rings 25 and 26 0 Figure 1, or this means may be di-ametrical portions such as the portions 37 and 39 of Figure 4. The rings 25 and 26 enable the clearance space to c'ircle'the entire circumference of the pipe whereas theportions 37 and 39 permlt the clearance space to circle only a part of. the circumference of the pipe or conduit C. The clearance space may if desired take the form of a groove .23 within the bore 22 of the coupler member 1 21, which groove may or may not pass around the entire circumference of the bore as desired.- The clearance space or groove may therefore extend around any part of the circumference of the bore as desired. Similarly the coupler member may be provided with one or more clearance spaces or grooves which may be described-as at least one clearance space or groove which may exteildcompletely around the circumference of the bore or any part of the circumference.

A wedging means is driven into the clean ance space or groove to securely anchor a conduit therein. The wedging means has a thickness approximately equal tothe depth of the groove or clearance space so that the conduit is securely anchored to the coupler member; The wedging means may be U- shaped in form or may bea single fiat element. Where the single element wedging means such as shown in Figure 7 is used, at least one groove may be provided in the coupler member. for each wedging means with at least one passage within the coupler member for each wedgingmeans leading-to the clearance-space-or groove.

. Where the U-s'haped type of wedging project beyond the outer circumference-cf the member and permit the; end 'thereofto be haimnercdfand therebyassist i in driving the ivcdging,ineans'out of" the groove inorder to uncouple the conduit 011M136 from'the coufler.

.'1. A pipe coupler comprising 'aficoupl'er member having a bore toreceivethejend of a L "pipe'acur'ved groove wlt-hin-sald'bore having a pair ot 'spacec'lpassagesjleadmg to the outer circumference of the member, and a Ugshaped edriYeiI-into the groove through-the pas agestoanchor a pipe within-the coupler. "'12,,A; pipe corpler comprising a coupler having aboreto receive the" end of 'a"pj1 pe,.'.a curved groove-withinthe bore having a pair o'f'spaced passages leading to the outer ECIICIIlHfQ/IBHCG of the memberg'a U- shaped; and bendable wedging means having legsjoined by, a headand spaced apart a distance-equal to spacing of the passages, the

. wedging means approximating in thickness is thedepth of the groove and, driven th'ereinto through the passages to anchor a pipe-within the coupleigan'd a recess at least'at one end of the passages permitting access to beneath the head of the 'wedging means.

3. pipe coupler comprlsing a coupler member having a bore to receive the end of a pipe, acurved groove Within-said bore having a-pair of spaced passages leading to the member having a boreto receive a conduit, :1

outer circumference of the member, a U- shaped and bendable wedging meanswhavmg legs spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of the passages and approximating in thickness the depth of the .groove, the Wedging means being driven into the groove throughthe spaced passages to anchor apipe within the coupler, and longitudinal ridges uponthe inner faces of the wedgi'ng means to bite into the pipe.

4. A pipe coupler comprising a coupler member having a bore to receive the end of a pipe, a curved. groove within the bore having a pair of spaced passages leading to the outer circumference'of themember, a U-shaped and bendable wedging means having legs spacedapart a distance equal to the spacing of the" passages and approximating in thickness the depth of the groove, the wedgingmeans being driven into the groove through the spaced passages to anchor a pipe Within the coupler, and ridges upon both faces of the legs to bite into the pipe and the coupler member.

circumference of the membenand a -bend-.

the, conduit Within the coupler.

shaped wedging meansapproximating'in thickness the-depth of the groove-and driven =thereinto through .the passage, each leg of c through the passage 5. A pipe coupler comprising a coupler member having a bore to receive a conduit, a

circumferential groove within the bore having at least one passage leading to the outer 7 able Wedging means for each passage approximating in thickness the depth of the groove and driven 'thereinto through the passage to anchortheconduit within the coupler a 16. pipe coupler comprising 'a coupler ferencer'of the member, andbendable Wedgdepth of the groove and driven thereinto through the passage to circle the conduit. in

both directions fromthe passage to anchor 7. A pipecoupler,comprising a fcoupler 35 memberhaving a bore to receive a conduit, a

circumferentialgroove! within the bore having a'p'a-ssage leading to theouter circumference of themember, and a bendable U- the U circling the'conduit in'opposite directions from the passage to anchor the conduit vwithin the couplera i l 8'.-A pipecouplers-comprising a coupler member having a bore to receive a conduit, a vpair 0f curvedgrooves diametrically opposite each-other within the bore having a passage ,at each endleading to the'outer circumference of the member, and a bendable wedg'ing means for each passage approximating in thickness the depth of the groove and longer than the groovedriven thereinto through the passage to anchor the conduit within the 1 coupler. a I

9. A pipe coupler comprising a coupler pairofcurjved grooves diametrically opposite each other within the bore having a passage at each end leading to the. outer circumference of the member, and a U shaped and bendable wedging means for eachpassage approximating in thicknessthe depth of the groove and longer than the groove driven therein to to anchor. the conduit Within the coupler. i Y f In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature. GEORGE C, THOMAS, JR. 0

75 member having abore to receive a conduit, 2. -C1 1C11 mf6IQI1l31fll groove w thin the bore'havng a passagele'admg to the outer circum- 

